African School of Physics 2024: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1417241/
Topical Session: Fundamental Physics in North Africa
Panel Discussion
Role of large collaborations:
- Does the benefit outweigh the cost? Are they the right entry point for building research?
- Large highly technical research infrastructure doesn’t just facilitate science, but develops industry
- Lots of physics to be done with tabletop experiments still: could be lower entry point
Pan-Africanism
- Is a focus on North Africa well-defined and/or useful? North Africa faces the same challenges as many other African nations
- Could North African countries combine resources in a single North African institute ?
- Importance of peace between countries: past scientific agreements fell apart due to diplomatic/governmental issues
- Work to enhance involvement of scientists in public policy/government activities?
- Future research centers: funded by African Union, modeled after CERN
- ICTP: Tried to get an ICTP Centre of Excellence for many years in North Africa
- TODO revisit concept of AIMS or ICTP Center in North Africa?
Funding
- Jacqueline Smith (DOE): emphasis on maintaining connection among key players in HEP Africa and globally (lab directors, research personnel, etc.)
- Engage more with US agencies (Department of Energy, Department of State): opportunities to both train in the US but also support in country.
- Funding from other countries (US, ICTP, EU, etc.) can get things started but can’t sustain a real effort in Africa: need local funding support as well
- TODO: pool funding/traineeship opportunities and make this list publicly available